Lawrenceville Approves $31 Million for Expanded Arts Complex

Lawrenceville city leaders voted
unanimously to move forward with plans for a $31 million expansion of
its downtown arts and education facility.

Though the city is fronting the
investment, 50% of the total is planned to come from the city’s
arts and educational partners.

The expanded facility will include a
500-seat theatre, encompass the existing theatre facilities managed
by the Aurora Theatre, and incorporate additional educational space,
a cabaret theatre, office space and room for complimentary
development on the Crogan Street side of the block.

“This exciting project continues the
dynamic transformation of the downtown area,” said Mayor Judy
Jordan Johnson. “This facility will bring the arts community
together with educational opportunities and all the other amenities
that our vibrant community has to offer.”

The facility will be constructed on the
block surrounded by Pike, Clayton and Crogan Streets with its front
entry opening onto Clayton Street across from the Historic Gwinnett
County Courthouse Grounds. The Aurora Theatre contracts with the city
to manage, operate and craft programming for its current venue and is
planned to do the same for the expanded complex.

The city will move forward to begin
demo and construction in the next 90 to 120 days. The facility is
expected to be complete by mid-2020.